News

Irvine cashes in on perks for peers

LORD IRVINE, the former lord chancellor, has cashed in on the generous system of parliamentary expenses to become one of the costliest peers in the upper house.

Irvine, who already receives a lavish state-funded pension, “clocked on” to become eligible for parliamentary expenses on 154 of the 157 days the House of Lords sat last year.

However, he voted in fewer than two-thirds of debates, dropping to one-third in the run-up to the election. He serves on no committees scrutinising policy, has not asked any parliamentary questions and rarely takes part in debates.

He is still entitled to pick up £192 for each day he signs in, plus first-class travel for himself and his wife to their home in Argyllshire, by exploiting a loophole in the expenses rules.

The House of Lords requires its members to declare a “main residence” for expenses claims. Those who register residences outside London are